Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 69.25
Liaison Laura Bain
Submission Date Jan. 26, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Furman University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.00 / 3.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution offer at least one sustainability-focused major, degree program, or the equivalent for undergraduate students?:
Yes

The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (1st program):
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Sustainability Science:

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (1st program):

The Bachelor of Science in sustainability science is our newest degree program, and the only one of its kind at a liberal arts university. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a marketable skill set and a holistic, problem based, solution driven way of thinking that considers the complexity and feedbacks between social and environmental systems. Classes focus on addressing real world sustainability problems like food security, energy production, and access to clean water. The degree is rooted in the primacy of the environment and recognizes that the scale of human civilization is limited by our natural resources. The interconnected nature of the environment-society-economy relationships requires systems thinking to understand sustainability problems and develop solutions. Greenville provides a natural laboratory to consider appropriate solutions to real world sustainability challenges. The capstone of the B.S. degree is an original research project completed in collaboration with a faculty member, the results of which are presented at a local or national professional meeting.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (1st program):
The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences:

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):

As an Earth and Environmental Sciences major, you will study the physical, chemical, and biological, natural and human processes, in both time and space, which have shaped the planet. Courses are designed to help you understand the complexity, interconnectedness, and dynamic nature of the Earth system.

All of the courses, including the introductory classes, involve a field component. Class excursions include extensive use of the campus living, learning laboratories as well as many local and regional field trips to places like the Okefenokee Swamp, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the South Carolina coast. The capstone of the B.S. degree is an original research project completed in collaboration with a faculty member, the results of which are presented at a local or national professional meeting.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (2nd program):
The name of the sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Earth and Environmental Sciences:

A brief description of the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):

The B.A. degree is very similar to the B.S. degree, but designed for a major who wants to explore more of the human side of the environment. Typically, students who pursue the B.A. degree compliment their Earth and Environmental Sciences courses with environmental related courses in other departments like economics, political science, and sociology. Although a senior thesis experience is not required, we always encourage B.A. students to consider engaging in a research project that culminates in a thesis or presentation at a professional meeting. Many of our B.A. students work closely with Furman's David E. Shi Center for Sustainability, which provides numerous campus and community-related projects and outreach opportunities.


The website URL for the undergraduate degree program (3rd program):
The name and website URLs of all other sustainability-focused, undergraduate degree program(s):
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Does the institution offer one or more sustainability-focused minors, concentrations or certificates for undergraduate students?:
Yes

The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):
Environmental Studies Minor

A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):

Many of the problems that will face humanity in the 21st century will be environmental. The expanding human population and dwindling supplies of oil, water and arable land could de-stabilize economic, political and social institutions.

Our minor offers 
a program of study that teaches you how the Earth functions as a system and supports life; how the growing human population is transforming this Earth system; the complex relationships between culture (social, political, religious, and economic systems) and the environment; and that solutions are constructed in this social context. The minor also provides
 a course experience in which students discover the interdisciplinary nature of environmental problem solving and work in teams to address environmental issues.


The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (1st program):
The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (2nd program):
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The name of the sustainability-focused undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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A brief description of the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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The website URL for the undergraduate minor, concentration or certificate (3rd program):
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The name, brief description and URL of all other undergraduate-level sustainability-focused minors, concentrations and certificates:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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